Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1047665
14 MALTA'S population grew by almost 70,000 in a decade with more than three quarters of that increase being foreign- ers, official figures show. By the end of 2017, Malta's population was 475,701, according to figures ob- tained from the National Statistics Of- fice. The population stood at 407,832, 10 years earlier. While the native Maltese pop- ulation during the 10-year span increased by 15,449, the number of foreigners in the same period jumped up by more than 52,000. The figures show that by the end of 2017 there were 67,145 foreigners living in Malta. The share of for- eigners in the population rose from 4% in 2007 to 14% last year. Foreign residents increased in all localities apart from Sannat, which experienced a marginal decline. A magnet for foreigners St Paul's Bay, which has leap-frogged Birkirkara to become the most populated locality, had the highest concentration of foreign residents last year. The seaside locality had a population of 26,133 by the end of 2017, with 43% of these being foreign. But St Paul's Bay has always been a magnet for foreign- ers, having had the high- est concentration of non- Maltese residents even 10 years ago. In 2007, 17% of the 14,368 people who lived in St Paul's Bay were foreign. The substantial increase in the population of St Paul's Bay, was primarily the result of a greater number of foreign- ers choosing to live in the locality over the 10-year span. However, unlike some other towns, St Paul's Bay also saw its native Maltese population grow in the period. Dramatic change But the most dra- matic changes oc- curred in Msida, Gżira and Birżebbuġa. The overall popula- tions in these localities increased purely as a re- sult of burgeoning for- eign communities in their midst. While foreigners made up 7% of residents in each of Msida and Gżira in 2007, this grew to 42% and 40% respectively last year. Msida's population experienced a 60% increase in 10 years to reach 12,216 by 2017. But while the locality's native Mal- tese population declined by 72 during the period, the number of foreigners increased by 4,644. Foreigners now make up 42% of Msida's resi- dents. The same story hap- pened in Gżira. In the past decade, the native Maltese population in Gżira dropped by 136, while foreign residents increased by 3,864. Birżebbuġa in the south east also expe- rienced the same phenomenon. The for- eign population in the locality accounted for 33% last year, a significant jump from the 4% in 2007. While the native Maltese population in Birżebbuġa declined by 428, foreign residents shot up by 3,800 between 2007 and 2017. maltatoday | SUNDAY • 4 NOVEMBER 2018 ANALYSIS KURT SANSONE SWIEQI MELLIEHA PIETA 10% 9% 5% Population growth driven by more Maltese... and more foreigners Foreigners made up 14% of Malta's population by the end of 2017. Kurt Sansone breaks down the figures obtained from the National Statistics Office Gżira and Birżebbuġa. The overall popula- tions in these localities increased purely as a re- sult of burgeoning for- While foreigners made up 7% of residents in each ST PAUL'S BAY 17% 26,133 14,368 13,553 8,365 10,868 7,982 4,583 3,898 43% 26% 25% 20%